What if the conditions are so bad I can't live in my home?

You may move out if your landlord fails to provide and maintain the rental unit in a safe and habitable condition. By refusing to make repairs, your landlord has breached the lease and its legal obligation to maintain the rental unit in a safe and habitable condition. This is called a “breach of the implied warranty of habitability.”

Before deciding to move

Notify the landlord in writing of the bad conditions and request repairs be made. You can send this notice by email, text, or by letter sent by regular mail and certified mail. Be sure to write the date and your landlord’s name and full address in the upper left-hand corner of the letter. Keep all emails and texts, as well as photocopies of all letters you send. If you can’t make a photocopy take a photo with your cell phone. 

Take photos of the bad conditions and keep them in a safe place.

If your landlord does not make the necessary repairs, notify your landlord in writing that you intend to move because of the bad conditions and the landlord’s failure to make repairs. Again, you can send the notice by email, text, or by letter sent by regular mail and certified mail. Be sure to write the date and your landlord’s name and full address in the upper left-hand corner of the letter. Keep all emails and texts, as well as photocopies of all letters you send. If you can’t make a photocopy take a photo with your cell phone

When you move out

• Remove all of your belongings, including trash.
• Clean the home, including all appliances, floors, carpets, cabinets, closets, and bathrooms.
• Take photos of all rooms, inside all drawers, cabinets, closets, and appliances, as well as the outside of the home or apartment.
• DO NOT leave the keys in the mailbox. Notify the landlord that you have moved out and that you have left the keys inside the rental unit, for example inside a kitchen drawer.
• DO NOT give your landlord your new address.